The Ones Who were Chosen

by Lady Lilium

  Indigo scowled at her. ‘If her power gets into the wrong hands…’

  ‘What are you planning to do with her if you find her?’ Ebony asked him. ‘And now that you’ve found me, what do you plan to do?’

  ‘You need to be taken to the Ancient World’ Indigo replied. ‘You would be safer there.’

  ‘I am just as safe here as I would be there’ Ebony argued.

  ‘No, you’d be amongst friends there.’

  ‘Friends?’ Ebony stopped and looked to the sky, seeing a flock of geese flying in formation overhead. ‘I have never known what's it’s like not to be alone.’

  The others paused then.

  ‘You will be safer in the Ancient World’ Indigo persisted. ‘There are more guardians, there is more magic. You would be protected there, understood.’

  ‘In a world where there are more guardians who want to hurt me,’ Ebony sighed. She continued walking, the others followed suit. Lucas beside her was completely silent now, and Siren continued to stare into her orb as she trailed after them.

  ‘At least in this world fewer people know about me’ Ebony went on.

  ‘We can’t leave this kind of power simply wandering around’ Indigo went on. ‘Do you have any idea of the consequences if you were found by the wrong people?’

  An image flashed in Ebony’s mind then of a girl she once knew and loved. Her sister, screaming for Ebony to run, before she was slaughtered so violently before her very eyes.

  ‘……Yes’ Ebony murmured, slowing to a stop again. ‘I do.’

  Indigo hesitated. ‘Then I suppose you’d know in that case how important it is that we return both of you to the Ancient World where you belong.’

  ‘I belong here’ Ebony replied dreamily, as if she were only half-listening.

  ‘Where is she?’ Indigo demanded, his tone losing patience now.

  ‘You won’t find her’ Ebony said simply. ‘If she’s managed to hide from you all this time then you will struggle to find her now. She’s older than I am, and so much more experienced.’

  ‘You will tell me.’

  ‘I won’t’ Ebony droned, turning away and crossing her arms, an action that seemed to infuriate him even more.

  ‘You will not play this game with me’ Indigo began, raising his voice and taking a step towards her.

  In an instant Lucas put himself between them, shoving Indigo in the chest and pushing him back.

  ‘Stay away’ he ordered, nearly shouting.

  ‘Indigo’ Siren barked suddenly, speaking up for the first time as Indigo made a move to step forwards. ‘You will not frighten her; she is scared enough as it is.’

  Indigo glared at all of them, shaking his head in exasperation.

  ‘Foolish children’ he huffed storming away, though he didn’t go far.

  ‘I'm sorry Ebony’ Siren told her in a soothing voice. ‘We truly mean you no harm. But we have been searching and travelling for so long, we are all tired and weary.’

  Ebony smiled at her. There was something about this girl that calmed her, that made her feel at ease.

  Siren beamed back, consulting her orb again. Within it she saw a handsome character dressed in leather, his black hair spiked forwards.

  ‘Do you know someone called Venom?’ she asked suddenly, speaking to Lucas.

  ‘Venom?’ he hesitated.

  ‘Jacob?’ Siren offered.

  ‘Is he ok?’ Lucas asked her nervously.

  ‘Don’t worry’ Siren reassured him. ‘He is well. I can see him now.’

  ‘What about my brother?’

  ‘Hmm’ Siren hummed. ‘What does he look like?’

  ‘So are we just going to sit here like this and do nothing?’ Venom argued to Reuben.

  ‘It’s not safe to leave.’

  ‘It’s not safe to stay.’

  Reuben glared at him. ‘You think I don’t want to try to find my brother? I wouldn’t even know where to begin.’

  They were still in the flat, and Reuben lost for anything else to do had tried to tidy the place as best he could, just to keep his mind occupied. When he had finished, he grew quickly bored, and restless. He stood by the broken window now, staring out in case he saw his brother. He swallowed the lump in his throat.

  ‘The creatures won’t come back here’ Culture said off handed. ‘It’s the girl in black that they seek.’

  Venom sighed and covered his face with a hand. ‘How do we know Lucas and Ebony are not in danger?’

  ‘Indigo is likely to be with them by now’ Culture replied. ‘So is Siren.’

  ‘They are your friends I assume?’ Venom asked turning to him.

  ‘I would try to find them myself’ Culture spoke up, ‘but I'm not feeling well.’ He unconsciously touched his chest as he said this. ‘And besides’ he continued, ‘I don’t want to leave Shire alone.’

  ‘Jeez, I only came here to meet Ebony’ Venom huffed.

  Reuben brushed the curtain back slightly.

  ‘It’s getting dark outside.’

  He moved away and sat in one of the cushioned seats.

  Several minutes of silence passed, and Reuben’s mind began to wander as he stared blankly at the wall.

  White…hmm, not a bad colour………I suppose you can mix white with any colour in a room….easy to get dirty though, I guess that’s why doctors wear it, do nurses wear white? My dentist does…

  ‘Hey!’ Venom shouted. ‘I'm talking to you, are you listening to me?’

  ‘Be quiet’ Reuben hissed. ‘You’ll wake them up’ he said indicating Shire and Lauralie.

  ‘We should go out and look for them’ Venom said. ‘We should do that at least.’

  ‘Look for them where?’ Reuben laughed flatly. ‘They could be anywhere; they could be one hundred miles away for all we know. This town is large enough, and besides….’ Reuben added in mumble, ‘I don’t think Lucas wants me around right now…’

  ‘Then what should we do?’ Venom continued in a hushed voice.

  ‘Stay here and wait’ Reuben said in a tone that suggested the end of the discussion.

  Venom turned away, and Reuben became quickly distracted again.

  Lucas left his mobile behind…. Reuben thought seeing it on the floor. I guess he didn’t get a chance to pick it up in the rush…

  ‘In the meantime’ Reuben continued speaking to Venom, ‘why don’t we watch….oh that’s right we sold the TV. I wouldn’t worry’ Reuben waved as if this didn’t matter, ‘I'm sure they’re both fine. Culture did say that Indigo and Siren are probably with them now…whoever they are…’

  ‘And that’s a good thing?’ Venom asked, raising his eyebrow as he glanced towards Culture, who stared mutely back at him, his large leathery wings folded behind him.

  Reuben turned to look at Culture also, before facing Venom again.

  ‘Culture has been good to us’ he said. ‘I think we can trust his friends to be good too.’

  Venom folded his arms, not entirely convinced.

  ‘I sure hope your right’ Venom sighed.

  They lapsed into silence, as the minutes began to tick away.

  Both the blue haired woman, and Lauralie slept heavily now, showing no signs of waking any time soon. Drake had been watching over Lauralie for the last several minutes, having not spoken for a while. No doubt his thoughts were clouded with worry.

  ‘Are you alright?’ Drake said suddenly, speaking to the aberrant.

  ‘Hm?’ Culture looked up.

  ‘You said that your heart hurts’ Drake told him.

  ‘Yes’ Culture said, avoiding his gaze then. ‘It does.’ He sat in one of the armchairs in the room, resting with his elbows on his knees, leaning forward to give space to his large wings.

  ‘What's wrong?’ Drake asked him.

  Culture took a deep breath, answering only reluctantly after several moments.

  ‘I am getting old’ the aberrant confessed. ‘My heart is failing.’

  ‘Old?’ Drake repeated. He too
k at every detail of the aberrant’s face.

  Despite the coal-black skin, the aberrant could have been called handsome. His face was slim and looked young, and his skin was utterly perfect. His appearance suggested that he was barely over twenty. And his bare chest was lean and his arms were muscular.

  ‘I don’t understand’ Drake said.

  ‘Aberrants have a far shorter lifespan than humans do’ Culture droned. ‘They grow fast and die young.’

  ‘How old are you?’ Drake said, ‘if you don’t mind me asking.’

  ‘Twenty four.’

  ‘Is that all?’

  ‘Yes’ the aberrant nodded glumly. ‘I am nearing the end of my life. Most aberrants don’t live past twenty five, and my heart has gotten worse day by day, but there is nothing to be done about it.’ He sighed deeply. ‘I only pray I live long enough to return to the Ancient World.’

  ‘I assure you, all four of them are fine’ Siren repeated yet again. ‘I promise my powers do not lie.’

  ‘Even my brother?’ Lucas insisted. ‘Is he fine too?’

  ‘Yes’ Siren chuckled in amusement. ‘Even that Lauralie you love so much.’

  Lucas drew back hesitantly, giving her an uncertain look.

  ‘I'm joking’ Siren laughed, touching Lucas’ arm in reassurance. ‘I know you find her tiresome.’

  ‘Annoying is more the word’ Lucas finished.

  ‘Anyway’ Ebony interrupted; her tone exasperated as she threw a disapproving look towards Lucas. She spoke to Siren. ‘Tell me about the Ancient World.’

  Siren gleamed kindly. ‘If you do come with us to the Ancient World, I want you to come through your own choice.’

  She knelt, sitting in the grass that now reached her eyelevel.

  ‘Please, sit with me.’

  She placed the orb in her lap as Lucas and Ebony sat, facing each other they formed a triangle. Hidden by the tall grass, only the tops of their heads could be seen. Ebony noticed briefly the figure of Indigo, facing them a short distance away. He was leaning back against one of the old posts that made up the broken fence, arms crossed and looking glum.

  ‘The Ancient World’ Siren began, ‘is a wonderful place. There are no huge cities made of metal, no cars or pollution. Their cities are made of stone, and are utterly outstanding. The land in the Ancient World is by far more open, and more land is given to the wildlife, you can travel for miles in one direction and see nothing but wilderness. If you go in another direction, you will see the most fabulous towns.’ Siren paused for a moment, gazing down at her orb. She lifted her head and continued. ‘The city, the capital, is built of faded grey stone, with narrow streets and lines of houses as far as you could walk. It is built near the coastline, and the palace at its centre is the grandest building that I have ever seen.’

  ‘I knew there were other worlds out there’ Lucas said triumphantly. ‘My brother thought the same.’

  ‘Well you were right’ Siren agreed. ‘Both of you.’

  ‘How many worlds are there?’ Lucas asked.

  ‘That we know of? Three. This world, the Ancient World, and the Aberrant World.’

  ‘Aberrant World?’ Ebony echoed.

  ‘It is a cold world’ Siren explained, ‘and desolate, or so it first appears. All aberrants originally come from that world.’

  ‘Then how do they appear in this world?’ Ebony asked Siren.

  ‘There are some aberrants that can use magic’ Siren told her. ‘Like Culture.’

  ‘Who’s that?’ Lucas raised an eyebrow at the name.

  ‘The winged guardian you found in the skate park’ Siren said to Lucas. ‘He told us all about that. He originally came from the Aberrant World. Many aberrants who can wield magic leave portals open for other aberrant who cannot.’

  ‘Portals?’ Lucas leant forwards eagerly.

  ‘It’s how guardians travel from one world to another’ Siren told him. ‘It seems you still have a lot to learn.’

  ‘Where are these portals?’ Lucas asked Siren.

  The portals are in fixed places, so you have to find them before you can open them, that can sometimes be tricky. Only those that can wield magic can open a portal to another world.’

  ‘So I could open a portal?’ Lucas asked excitedly.

  Siren mused. ‘Perhaps, you are still young as a guardian, and I don’t know much of your powers or abilities, but it is more than likely.’

  Lucas nodded as her words sunk it, trying hard to suppress his excitement.

  ‘I have a question’ Ebony asked Siren’ How is it that people without magic cannot see us?’

  ‘Magic is a strange thing’ Siren spoke, ‘and I'm afraid we don’t fully understand it, even now.’

  ‘But guardians can be seen by others who don’t have magic’ Ebony went on. ‘Yet I cannot.’

  ‘Is that so?’

  ‘When I was younger, my foster parents barely noticed me. But now, they don’t see me at all.’

  ‘You’ve matured’ Siren explained. ‘You are an extremely powerful creature. You are bound to become unseen by the non-magic as you grow older. Guardians though are not as powerful. They can be seen by others, but not the magic that they use. If a normal person does see magic, then it drives them mad. Many believe there is a seal on this world, so magic cannot be seen.’

  ‘I suppose that make sense’ Ebony admitted. ‘But why are aberrants attracted to us?’

  ‘I don’t know’ Siren replied. ‘I don’t think anyone does. We only know that aberrants are drawn to philosopher’s stones. That’s why we brought Culture along.’ A smile tweaked her lips. ‘You have very beautiful eyes by the way’ she said to Ebony. ‘They are very unusual.’

  They were interrupted suddenly by Indigo. He stood over them now, arms crossed.

  ‘We should go back to your home’ Indigo said moodily to Lucas. ‘We should see how your friends are doing.’

  They stood in formation facing inwards. Siren cast her hand out and used her magic to transport the four of them back to Lucas’ home.

  When Lucas opened his eyes, blinded momentarily by the white light of the spell, he barely had time to re-orientate himself before a figure rushed to him. Reuben embraced his brother tightly, whispering words of relief and reassurance into his ear. Lucas in turn, held him back instinctively. Drake and the newly christened Venom both rose as the group materialized into the living room. Discussions began in a murmur between the elders. Shire still slept, and Culture explained to Indigo what had happened, glancing towards the young Lauralie as he did. Siren touched her mother’s cheek tenderly. Worry etched in her face.

  As the hours wore on, and the sky darkened to almost pitch black, Drake and Venom decided to go home.

  ‘I can’t stay here’ Drake said. ‘I've got to go home, I'm visiting Eleanor tomorrow, and the train leaves early.’

  ‘Are you going to be alright?’ Lucas asked the both of them.

  Venom gave him a bemused look. ‘I am a guardian’ he said confidently. ‘My powers have finally come to me.’

  ‘You have to understand’ Lucas warned him, ‘that there are still dangers out there.’

  ‘Then I can give as good as I get’ Venom laughed. ‘And anyway, Drake will accompany me half the way.’

  ‘Just be careful’ Lucas told them, as Ebony shyly waved them goodbye from behind Lucas.

  ‘We will’ Drake said.

  ‘Do me a favour and text me when you both get home, just so that I know you’re safe.’

  The two agreed only reluctantly. They said their goodbyes and Lucas watched them as they left. Retreating back into the apartment he propped the newly fixed door back in its place. It had been badly damaged by the creatures, but the elder guardians had helped him fix it as best they could.

  Inside the apartment now, the mood was subdued. Everyone was quiet, except for Culture and Ebony, who spoke eagerly together in hushed voices.

  No doubt he’s drawn to her like the other aberrants are Lucas thought. Just like S
iren told us.

  He received a text on his phone some minutes later from Drake and Venom, telling him they had returned home safely.

  Lucas placed the mobile back in his pocket.

  ‘It’s late’ he said to his brother. ‘I'm going to bed.’

  ‘What about the others?’ Reuben asked, indicating the elder guardians and Lauralie.

  Lucas glanced at them.

  ‘We’re staying here’ Indigo clarified. ‘It’s comfortable, if not a little chilly.’ He glanced to the broken window as he said this.

  Lauralie was still fast asleep, and Siren stayed close to her mother, who still rested.

  ‘Well I guess I can’t make you leave’ Lucas sighed, ‘even if I could be bothered to try. I suppose Lauralie’s to stay too?’

  ‘She needs the rest’ Siren voiced. ‘Her body and mind have suffered a great strain.’

  Lucas turned from the room, waving Siren away dismissively; too weary by the day’s events to answer. He slouched down the corridor to his own bedroom, Reuben trailing after him, and Ebony following them headed to her own room once belonging to their mother. Collapsing on his bunk in the clothes he still wore, Lucas began to drift quickly off to sleep, before being abruptly woken by his mobile receiving a text.

  It was from Sian.

  Will I be seeing you tomorrow?

  Lucas groaned in frustration, dumping the mobile off the edge of the bed and rolling over to face the wall.

  He began to drift off again, until he was deep in his dreams.

  Chapter Seven

  Stanger in the Night

  Sunday morning

  Kreas and Li watched the apartment from the roof of the building nearby, now in their human forms. Side by side they waited, silently observing the elder guardians, and the younger guardians through the broken window. But the philosopher’s stone was not in sight.

  ‘Where is she?’ Kreas demanded, balling his fists. ‘I don’t see her.’

  ‘She must be there’ Li replied, sweeping her long blond hair back. ‘The others would be out looking for her if she wasn’t.’